Boherlahan was the setting for this Round 3 top of the table clash in Group A of the Dr. Harty Cup Under 18.5 A Hurling competition on Wednesday afternoon. Played in dry, calm conditions before a sizeable attendance, this game would decide who finished top of the group as both schools had won their two games to date.

Ardscoil Ris started the much better team as they scored five unanswered points in the opening five minutes courtesy of Diarmuid Ryan (2), Aidan Moriarty, Paul O’Brien (’65) and Rory Duff. Midleton CBS while slow to start were boosted in the sixth minute when what was practically their first attack ended up with a good goal by full-forward Joe Stack to bring Midleton right back in to the game.

Diarmuid Ryan in particular was dominating the midfield exchanges for Ardscoil Ris and he added two points from play in quick succession which were added to with a point from play by Paul O’Brien to leave the Limerick side in front by 0-8 to 1-1 after ten minutes. Midleton would force their way back in to the game once again and three unanswered points by Joe Stack, Liam O’Shea (free) and Liam Gosnell left just a point between the teams after the first quarter.

David Woulfe added a point from play for Ardscoil Ris in the 16th minute before two points by Liam O’Shea (1 free) brought the sides level after 17 minutes of play. As is often the case for a team which recovers from a significant deficit, the achievement of drawing level can result in a team stopping the very things which brought them back in the first place. In this scenario, after drawing level, Midleton would go 12 minutes without a score as Ardscoil Ris reeled off points from Paul O’Brien (2 frees), Cathal O’Neill and Diarmuid Ryan to lead by four points approaching the interval. Ross O’Regan broke the scoring deadlock for Midleton with a point on the verge of half-time to leave the score – Ardscoil Ris 0-13 Midleton CBS 1-7 at the break.

Midleton CBS started the second half much brighter and scored four of the first five points to bring the sides level after 38 minutes, the Midleton scores coming from Liam O’Shea (3) and Liam Gosnell with the solitary reply coming from Diarmuid Ryan for Ardscoil Ris (his sixth from play). Having drawn level, Midleton were again hit with a sucker punch when they failed to clear their lines and Cathal O’Neill hit the back of the net with a first time ground stroke from close range to put Ardscoil Ris back in front.

This was a game of high intensity played between two good teams so it was no surprise when Midleton CBS added the next two scores, a pointed sideline cut from Liam O’Shea (his second during a seven minute spell) and Aaron Walsh Barry to leave just a point between the teams heading in to the final quarter.

The next score would be important and when it arrived, it was a significant one as David Woulfe raised a green flag for Ardscoil Ris to put the Limerick school four points up. The score however made no material difference to the run of play as Midleton CBS were hurling better at this stage and the response of the Cork school was admirable as they scored four unanswered points courtesy of Liam O’Shea (free), Arthur Nganou, Aaron Walsh Barry and Cathal Hickey to bring the sides level after 54 minutes of play.

Ardscoil Ris were never led in this game and true to form, having been pegged back yet again by a determined Midleton side, it was the Limerick school who managed to find a way to stay in front with points by David Woulfe and Paul O’Brien (free). Midleton would reduce the margin to the minimum with a point from play by Ger Millerick in the 59th minute and despite getting a couple of chances to equalise during three minutes of injury time, Midleton were unable to score again and Ardscoil Ris ran out one-point winners, 2-16 to 1-18.

This result confirmed Ardscoil Ris as Group A winners while Midleton CBS will also qualify for the Harty Cup Quarter-Finals as Group A runners-up. The standard on fare would lead one to believe that these teams may meet again in the semi-final or final but the quarter-final’s fixed for early January could play a significant role in that.